Home Inspections for Home Sellers

Is it worth it to have a home inspection done before selling my home, or should I just wait and see what comes out of the buyer’s pre-sale home inspection?

Money Pit Answer

A:

It’s always a good idea to have a home inspection done before putting your house on the market. By getting a home inspection early, you’ll be fully acquainted with any cosmetic, structural or mechanical issues and have the opportunity to correct them, or, as several states require, will be able to make a complete and liability-reducing disclosure during the sales contract process.

The buyer’s inspection doesn’t happen until after a sales contract is signed, so if you skip doing your own and are faced with surprising, costly issues late in the game, a complicated renegotiation or even complete cancellation of the transaction could result.

To find a local, qualified home inspector for your home inspection, visit the American Society of Home Inspectors at www.ashi.org, where you can also get acquainted with the process via a virtual home inspection.